South Australia - Politics
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There must be here less of Downing-Street regime; more of democratic influence. But to this effort the people must rouse themselves to political action. A false autocracy may sink this colony to perdition, but democratic institutions may elevate it to the very highest point of power and felicity.
(Adelaide Times, 26 June 1851, page 3b.)
- Country Party
- Elections
- Labo(u)r Party
- Legislative Council
- Liberalism and Conservatism (includes obituaries)
- Miscellany
- Morality in Parliament
- Party Politics
- Payment of Members
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Republicanism
- Socialism
Party Politics
The Register of 6 September 1856, page 2e has a lengthy editorial on this subject; it says in part:
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The evils of party spirit are great and manifold. The history of all free governments furnishes ample evidence of this fact and the biographies of statesmen of every constitutional regime abound with illustrations of it. Party spirit warps the soundest judgements and trammels the strongest minds, paralyzing their energy by destroying their individuality. It prostitutes the powers that might have blessed and benefited mankind to the aggrandisement of a few, or the interests of a class.
It encourages animosities which individuals would have suppressed and sanctions acts of which men of honour would be ashamed in their private dealings. The evil it creates or fosters would be intolerable were they not emblazoned in the false lustre of devotion to the interests of the party... Our party bases must consequently be sought in other questions - social, perhaps, rather than political in their character... A powerful Opposition wonderfully quickens the Executive sense of responsibility.
"Party Politics" is discussed in the Advertiser, 15 February 1862, page 2f:
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Party politics have frequently been condemned in very unsparing terms, and no doubt a great deal may be said against all special political organisations. Principles have been sometimes sacrificed to party, misconduct has been screened when party interests were at stake, and, on the other hand, fair and honourable conduct has been distorted, misrepresented and calumniated.
"Parties and Politics" is in the Advertiser,
21 April 1896, page 4g,
"Politics and Party" on
11 September 1906, page 6c,
"Political Parties" on
14 September 1908, page 6c.
